Merstone Station 10am-3pm Event 29th April

CycleWight, the cycle advocacy group of the Island, are celebrating 30 years of their formation.

To raise awareness of the work of the group and its successes they are organising a series of events on 29th April. Linking to the Randonnee it will be a great cycling weekend.

The group are basing themselves at Merstone Station for the day which will be their HQ.

It is 20 years since the Cowes to Sandown route opened which was the idea of CycleWight who raised the funds to do the initial survey to prove its viability. This popular route is now part of the National Cycle Network, Route 23 and locally is known as the Red Squirrel Trail. It is used by a wide range of users including the Walk the Wight (Flat walk) It encourage people to discover the countryside as well provide a tourist attraction in its own right. Three cycle hire companies have facilities near the route as well as the very popular cafe Pedallers.

More details of the event can be found on the CycleWight www.cyclewight.org.uk

Highlights of the day include:

• 10% discount at Wight Cycle Hire, Newport, if mentioning CycleWight on the day.

• Try out an electric bike courtesy of TAV cycles and Route Fifty7 at Merstone

• Join in led rides from Cowes, Sandown, Ventnor, Shanklin, Newport to Merstone.

• There will be a ride from Merstone which will take people on some of the Red Squirrel Trail

• Free bikes bells

• Have a go riding a cargo bike at Merstone

• Dr Bike. What’s wrong with my bike?

• Food vans.

• Advice on cycling on the Island

• Beryl Taster Sessions in various locations

• 10% discount at Wight Cycle Hire, Newport, if mentioning CycleWight on the day.

CycleWight’s successes in the last 30 years include:

• Raising the funds to survey the Newport to Sandown path

• Bikes on Island trains,

• Signing the Round the Island Cycle Route

• Producing cycle maps of the Island,

• Campaigning for Cycling and Walking Plans for Island Towns

• Producing a cycle strategy for the Island.

• Campaigning for a cross town route for Newport

• “Wider of a Rider Campaign”